The X-Box One is starting to hit the time in its lifespan when developers and game creators are finally getting to grips with the full potential of what it can achieve. As each year passes, they are and will continue to push the console to its very limits.

As 2016 has just ended, we felt it was the perfect time to evaluate all of the games released last year and rank them. Obviously ranking games in order is a very subjective decision, and there was plenty of arguments and discussion amongst the team before the final list was compiled. However, eventually, the choices were made, and so here are our top five X-Box games of 2016. Choose a few of these games, treat yourself to the new monitor from the gaming monitor and prepare to cut yourself off from humanity for the rest of January.

1 Battlefield One

The X-Box has developed a bit of a reputation as the ultimate first person shooter console, and Battlefield One is a stunning example of the craft. It provides the gamer with the opportunity to experience and take part in some of the most famous battles ever. The graphics are stunning, matched with an almost perfect control system, which provides many hours of intense gameplay.

2 Forza Horizon 3

Driving games always provide the develpers with the option to come up with new and exotic environments, and everyone loved the stunning backdrops and challenges that Forza Horizon 3 came up with. The beauty of Forza is that there is really no end to the game, you can play it for hours, which adds to the overall value of the game, compared to some games that you wait months for and then complete in days.

3 Firewatch

We all felt that it was important to include a different type of game from the normal. However much you may want to dispute the fact, the gaming universe cannot always rely on first person shooters, sports and driving games. Firewatch is totally different, and while it is not a particularly long game, lasting around five hours in total, the challenge and storyline provides a unique and compelling experience. The creators deserve credit for having the confidence to come up with a game about looking after a forest. Don't let the storyline put you off, and give this game a try; it may well surprise you.

4 Inside

In an effort to appeal to every type of gamer, we wanted to include different styles of games, and the older members of the team, in particular, were keen to invoke an element of nostalgia by including a puzzle/platform game namely Inside. This game which sells at an absolute bargain basement price is quite a dark and atmospheric game. It involves your character (a nameless boy) trying to avoid being captured by killer guards while dealing with numerous obstacles in the process. The soundtrack to this game is almost non-existant, which only adds to the atmosphere of the game, and some could argue demonstrates the fact that sometimes less is more. Highly recommended.

5 Overwatch

X-Box live always been the jewel in the crown of the X-box a system light years ahead of the competiton, with rock solid connection and interaction across the globe. Blizzard holds a place in many gamers hearts, due to their successful World of Warcraft franchise, so when they launched their latest muliti-player game, everyone was intrigued. The game features some rather weird looking characters, who then battle against other teams in a wide range of game modes. Truth be told the battles seem to take place for the sake of taking place, the storyline is perhaps a little on the weak side. On the other hand, the gameplay is compellingly addictive, and when matched with xbox live provides one of the best multi player experiences we have ever experienced. If multi player is your thing, then invest your Christmas money on Overwatch.

Some of our choices may seem quite unusual and different from the normal, but we wanted to highlight a wide range of games which might appeal to an ever expanding gaming audience. To retain popularity and maintain growth the industry needs to expand, and develop new ideas and concepts and we believe that some of the games mentioned in our review go some way to achieving this.